Draft device



A. A. ERL

DRAFT DEVICE Nav. 25, 1924.

Filed April 28. 1924 J5E- AT I RNEY.

Patented Nov. 25, 1924.

UNITED STATES ADAM ALT SERL, O'F SUMAS, WASHINGTON.

DRAFT DEVICE.

Application filed April 28, 1924. Serial No. 709,601.

1 '0 (all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ADAM ALT SERL, a citizen of the United States, residing at Sumas, in the county of Vhatcom and State of Vashington, have invented new and useful Improvements in Draft Devices, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to a draft device designed particularly for use in hauling stumps, snags or logs in land clearing and logging operations.

In clearing land of stumps or snags, it is customary to haul the stumps or snags by means of a draft line, operated by a donkey engine, to a point where the material is piled or stacked, the succeeding stumps, snags or logs, after the pile has been formed, being drawn to the top of the pile. As these piles are often of considerable height, it is neces sary, with ordinary devices, to have an attendant climb to the top of the pile in order to release the draft device from the log, a time consuming and dangerous operation. One object of my invention is to provide simple and effective means whereby the draft device may be released from the log and readily and conveniently drawn back for the subsequent operation.

In logging operations, it is often necessary to haul the legs a considerable distance over rough and hilly ground, as a result of which. draft devices of the kind customarily used are frequently released from the log, in

' which cases the draft device must be reapplied at the sacrifice of a great deal of time and labor.

Another object of my invention is to provide a means whereby the draft device will be held positively applied to the log so that it can not become accidentally displaced while the log is in transit, even in the passage of the log over the roughest kind of ground.

The invention consists of the features of construction, combination and arrangement of parts, hereinafter fully described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawing, in which Figure 1 is a perspective view showing the application of the invention.

Figure 2 is a side elevation of the drafthook with the latch device locked in. retracted position.

Figure is a rear elevation of the same.

Figure t is a view similar to Figure 2 showing the latch device in operative position.

Figure 5 is a detail section through the draft hook, taken on line 55 of Figure 2.

In carrying my invention into practice, I provide a draft device comprising a draft line 1 with which is associated a draft hook 2, the shaft of which is provided at one end with the hook member 3 and at its opposite end with an eye 1-, in which eye is secured a guide ring One end of the line 1 passes through the ring 5 and is designed to be extended in the form of a loop 6 around the body of the stump, snag or log 7 which is to be transported, and the free extremity of the loop portion 6 is provided with aretaining hook 8 adapted to be engaged with the hook member 3 of the latch 2 to hold the loop in position about the log, snag or stump to be drawn. The opposite end of the line 1 is designed to be passed, in practice, over a sheave or pulley supported above the top of the pile or stock to be formed, and thence to the Windlass of a donkey engine. Under the pull of the donkey engine, the loop' 6 is held taut and the load 7 drawn to the pile or stack where it is deposited. To the base of the shank of the hook 2 is fastened a ring 9 to which is secured one end of a haul back line 10, which is also designed to be connected with the donkey engine so that a pull may be exerted thereon to release the loop 6 from the deposited load, and whereby the load engaging portion of the draft cable may be drawn to another point for use in transporting another log, stump or snag to the pile.

The construction described provides a convenient means for releasing the draft loop 6 from the load 7 when the latter is deposited on a pile or stack. In this operation, the line 1 is slack so that the loop 6 will become loose, whereupon, by pulling upon the line 10, the hook of the draft hook 2 may be released from the retaining hook 8, after which, through the medium of the line 10, the loadengaging section of the draft cable 1 may be drawn to any point for subsequent use. Accordingly, the necessity of sending an attendant to the top of the pile for releasing the draft device from the load is entirely obviated.

I also provide a means whereby the throat of the latch hook 3 may be completely closed against the disengagement of the retaining hook 8 in the use of the draft device for transporting logs in logging operations. This comprises a latch member 11 pivoted at one end, as at 12, to one side of the shank of the hook 2 so as to adapt it to swing in the plane of said shank to a retracted position, as indicated in Figures 2 and 3, or to a position in which it abuts against the bill of the hook 3 and closes the throat of said hook, as shown in Figure l. In order to provide for an effective engagement of the free end of the latch 11 with the hook 3,. such latch is provided with an extension 13, and this extension is preferably bent back in U form to provide a retaining finger for sliding engagement with the reverse face of the shank of the hook 2. The finger 1 1 thus reinforces the pivot of the latch 11 against strains and guides it in its movements so that a positive working action is secured, and the finger also holds the latch from lateral or sidewise deflection so that it can not be sprung by pres sure out of alinement with the bill of the hook 3, so as to allow the retaining hook 8 to escape. Hence the device may be used for hauling logs over the roughest kind of ground surface without liability of the draft device being released from the log. For use in this connection, the engaging member 8 may be shaped so that its bill will lie under the hook 3 so as to form a contracted throat to obviate any liability of its accidental re lease by a pivoting movement, although this is not essential, as it may be disposed to bear against the log and held by the latter against any possibility of casual disengagement. The member 8 may, however be in the form of a closed eye for use in logging operations of the character described.

I preferably provide a detent or locking device for holding the latch member 11 in projected and retracted positions. This comprises a locking pin 15 movable in an opening '16 in the outer face of the shank of the hook 2 and communicating with a recess 1'? opening normally through the rear face of said shank. The recess 17 is of greater diameter than the opening 16 so as to provide a shoulder 18 and the pin 15 is provided with a collar or enlargement 19 to engage said shoulder, whereby its outward movement is limited. The recess 17 1s threaded to receive removed. The pin 15 is normally held pro-' jected by the spring 21 and is adapted to engage a notch 23 in the latch 11 to hold the latch in normal or retracted position. and. the

gagement with the load and its ready release therefrom in the operation of transporting and piling stumps, snags and logs in land clearing operations. Also that the invention provides a means whereby, through the medium of the latch 11, the engaging elements may be secured against anv possibility of casual release, allowing logs to be hauled over the roughest kind of ground without liability of the disengagement of the draft device therefrom.

Having thus fully described my invention, I claim:

1. A draft device comprising a draft hook having a hook member at one end and a ring or eye at its opposite end, a draft line threaded through said ring or eye and adapted to be passed about the loop and provided at its extremity with an engaging member for engagement with the hook member of the draft hook, and a releasing line attached to the draft hook.

2. A d aft device comprising a draft line adapted to be passed at one end around a loop and provided at its free end with an' engaging member, a draft hook having an eye at one end for the passage of the line therefrom and having a. hook member at its opposite end for engagement with'said engaging member, a haul-back line attached to the hook. and a latch member on the hook for closing the throat thereof.

A draft device comprising a draft line adapted to be passed at one end around a loop and having an engaging member at its extremity. a drafthook having an eye atone end for the passage of the draft line therefrom and a hook member at its opposite end for engagement with said engaging member, a haul-back line attached to said draft book, a pivoted latch member on the draft hook movable into the plane of the shank of the hook or across'the throat thereof, guiding means on said latch engaging the shank of the hook, and a retaining element for holding the latch in projected or retracted positions. 7

In testimony whereof I atlix my signature.

ADAM AL SERL. 

